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Zoo Animals

Tiger salamander

Ambystoma tigrinum

The tiger salamander is Michigan’s largest terrestrial (land-living) salamander. It can be 7 to 13 inches in length. It has a large head, wide snout and small eyes. The background color of this salamander is normally dark brown, olive gray or black. The larvae (babies) look like miniature mudpuppies. To distinguish the two species, one must look at the back feet; tiger salamanders have five toes and mudpuppies have four.

Animal Facts

Diet

The diet of the tiger salamander includes insects, worms and other amphibians.

Habitat

They live near seasonal wetlands, ponds, lakes and streams throughout most of the Eastern United States except the Appalachian Mountains.

Interesting Facts

Some tiger salamanders are neotenic, which means they mature in their larval form. To repel potential predators the tiger salamander can produce a toxic substance from glands in its tail.